What’s the best thing about elephants? Some say memory is their crowning trait, the old idea that they never forget. Yet as people spend more time with these giants, another talent keeps surfacing. Elephants reveal a surprising impulse for creativity, a natural curiosity that leads them to explore color, form, and pattern with a quiet, self-assured flair. They approach painting with the same patient focus they bring to daily tasks, offering a vivid reminder that intelligence isn’t measured only by memory or social bonds but by the urge to express and discover. Visitors glimpse a side of elephants that goes beyond the familiar scenes of family groups and trunks at rest. In this light, the art of elephants feels less like a novelty and more like meaningful enrichment that supports physical activity, mental engagement, and emotional well being.
Karishma is a 13 year old painting elephant at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in the United Kingdom. When she isn’t tending to her 17 month old baby, she reaches for a brush and guides it with her trunk across a canvas. The setup is designed to be safe and engaging, with brushes sized to fit her grip and pigments chosen to minimize any risk while offering bold, expressive color. The act requires dexterity and control; her trunk must maneuver a tool with precision, a feat animal observers find striking. The routine is more than a playful pastime. It is part of a broader program to encourage exploration, problem solving, and physical activity in a way that aligns with elephant welfare. Visitors arrive curious, ready to see a pet-worthy of enduring focus yet always surprised by the range of emotion and awareness the animals display when participating in these artistic sessions. Karishma’s ownership of the canvas at moments of rest and recreation speaks to a larger narrative about the capacity of elephants to learn, adapt, and convey a sense of personality through color and line, a testament to the bond between keeper and creature built over years of daily care and interaction.
Karishma really enjoys painting, and it demonstrates just how dexterous elephants’ trunks really are, a finding shared by Elizabeth Becker, an elephant keeper, who spoke to the CBBC website. Her words capture a moment of recognition that goes beyond the surface of a colorful portrait; they point to the plasticity of an elephant’s trunk as a precise instrument capable of delicate manipulation. The keeper notes that while Karishma’s paintings may not be as detailed as a Da Vinci, the finished pieces are pretty amazing. The statement resonates with those who have watched the animal work through a rhythm, drawing and pressing with careful intention. The results provide not only color and texture but a sense of presence that draws visitors in, inviting them to consider the animal’s inner life and the ways in which art becomes a bridge between species and people.
Her artwork will be on display at the zoo over the weekend to celebrate Elephant Appreciation Day, a moment that brings attention to the remarkable diversity of elephant behavior and the efforts that go into supporting their welfare. The event offers audiences a chance to observe a pastime that blends play with purpose, a reminder that enrichment activities can be powerful drivers of physical health, cognitive function, and emotional well being. The paintings are more than decoration; they are a record of a living, thinking being who experiments with color, texture, and form. As she works, the audience sees a creature with a complex personality, capable of curiosity, patience, and joy, and the whole scene underscores the connection between human caretakers and the species they care for. For families and travelers, it is a rare opportunity to witness a moment of artistry unfold in real time, a memory worth taking home as a reminder of nature’s surprises.